SCIENCE IN ANCIENT ARTWORK and SCIENCE TODAY The Theoretical Interpretation of Spacetime/motion

Planemo,   Planet,   Planetar,  Planetary Mass,   Planetesimals,   Planetoid,   Plutino,   Pluto,   Plutoids,   Protoplanet,   Puffy Planet,   Pulsar Planet   and,   Dwarf Planets,   Among   Others:
A Commentary on the International Astronomical Union's Definition of a Planet.

By Charles William Johnson

A Case Study in Today's Science Writing and A Spacetime/motion Analysis of the Word-concept "Planet"

Definition of a Planet.pdf

Table of Contents Introduction Part One A Geo-Centric Perspective in Science International Astronomical Union Definition of a Planet The IAU-2006 Definition of a Planet: The Underlying "Planetesimal Hypothesis" Part Two A Spacetime/motion Analysis of the IAU-2006 Definition of a "Planet" Spacetime/motion Analysis Space-aspects/levels Time-moments/processes Motion-relations/systems Part Three A Spacetime/motion Analysis of Massive Bodies in a Solar System Characteristics of Massive Bodies in Solar Systems Part Four A Selective Review of the Ruling Nomenclature of the Bodies of Mass in Our Solar System Selected Popular Word-Concepts for Planet Types Planet Type ADDENDUM Stars and Habitable Planets

Introduction

In Part One of this brief essay I review and comment how the official defining organizational body, the International Astronomical Union [IAU] defines the word-concept "planet" and related terms.

In Part Two, I present a spacetime/motion analysis of the IAU-2006 definition of the term "planet".

In Part Three, I present a brief analysis of the characteristics of a planet from the spacetime/motion perspective in order to demonstrate how word-concepts might represent the kinds of massive bodies in any solar system.

In Part Four, finally, I consider the popular nomenclature of the massive bodies in our solar system.

The theoretical problem at hand involves defining various features of spacetime/motion events into a single word-concept [i.e., planet], as will be shown, represents a nearly impossible task. It's like attempting to define what a "real planet" is ---an idealized concept of a planetary body. The search for a one-word-concept to an infinitely rich specificity of matter-energy ultimately contradicts reality itself.

Consider the following opinion:

"In an 18 August 2006 Science Friday interview, Mike Brown expressed doubt that a scientific definition was even necessary. He stated, "The analogy that I always like to use is the word "continent". You know, the word "continent" has no scientific definition ... they're just cultural definitions, and I think the geologists are wise to leave that one alone and not try to redefine things so that the word "continent" has a big, strict definition." [www.wikipedia.com "IAU definition of planet". Emphasis mine].

At this late stage of the game, one may further ask whether it is even necessary to define the word-concept planet. One could view such a task as fruitless, even meaningless, there is, however, something to be learned from the analytical process of attempting to express in words the complexity of spacetime/motion events. The way we speak and write reflects the way we think. Attempting to put into words what exists in reality addresses the purpose in science writing.

This essay seeks to evaluate and clarify the IAU-2006 definition of a planet.

©2014 Copyrighted by Charles William Johnson. All rights reserved. Earth/matriX. ISBN 1-58616-485-6

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